To amend chapter 188, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to alternatives-to-abortion agencies.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:

Section A. Chapter 188, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be
known as section 188.125, to read as follows:

188.125. 1. It is the intent of the general assembly to acknowledge the rights of an
alternatives-to-abortion agency and its officers, agents, employees, and volunteers to freely
assemble and to freely engage in religious practices and speech without governmental
interference, and that the constitutions and laws of the United States and the state of
Missouri shall be interpreted, construed, applied, and enforced to fully protect such rights.

2. A political subdivision of this state is preempted from enacting, adopting,
maintaining, or enforcing any order, ordinance, rule, regulation, policy, or other similar
measure that prohibits, restricts, limits, controls, directs, interferes with, or otherwise
adversely affects an alternatives-to-abortion agency or its officers, agents, employees, or
volunteers' assembly, religious practices, or speech, including but not limited to counseling,
referrals, or education of, advertising or information to, or other communications with,
clients, patients, other persons, or the public.

3. Nothing in this section shall preclude or preempt a political subdivision of this
state from exercising its lawful authority to regulate zoning or land use or to enforce a
building or fire code regulation, provided that such political subdivision treats an
alternatives-to-abortion agency in the same manner as a similarly situated agency and that
such authority is not used to circumvent the intent of this section.

4. In any action to enforce the provisions of this section, a court of competent
jurisdiction may order injunctive relief, recovery of damages, or both, as well as payment
of reasonable attorney's fees, costs, and expenses. The remedies set forth shall not be
deemed exclusive and shall be in addition to any other remedies permitted by law.

5. As used in this section, "alternatives-to-abortion agency" means:

(1) A maternity home as defined in section 135.600;

(2) A pregnancy resource center as defined in section 135.630; or

(3) An agency or entity that has the primary purpose of providing services or
counseling to pregnant women to assist such women in carrying their unborn children to
term instead of having abortions, and to assist such women in caring for their dependent
children or placing their children for adoption, as described in section 188.325.